Have to agree with the refs decision.......unfortunately........It was a rash challenge by Bertrand. Slightly missed timed perhaps or the other guy was a tad quicker to the ball. Lack of concentration by Bertrand I'm afraid...got what he deserved!!
Definate red for me, Bertrand knew exactly what he was doing. Sill, silly challenge at that stage of the game.
Looking back there had been a bit of pushing and shoving between the two all game. Maybe Ryan had just had enough.
I've watched that tackle over and over. Sometimes it looks like a red and others not even a foul. I can see why he was given a red but could also understand if the ref had done nothing. At the time, and it was right in front of me, it looked like both players just going for the ball. I still can't see how the guy got hurt. Bertrand's behaviour after the tackle was instigated by Monk gesticulating at the ref and trying to get him sent off. Re. the booing, there was definitely booing aimed at the player which is a sad indictment of those responsible. However, the booing at the end of the game, which someone was moaning about on another thread, was definitely aimed at the referee and not the team.
I was sat not far from the Saints bench and as a former ref my immediate reaction was that Bertrand played the ball and the Swansea player arrived a split second later- ie late - as both he and Gomis had been most times they went in for challenges. Initially watching the slow mo version I has second thoughts but if you slow it right down and watch it you can clearly see that Bertrand's trailing leg is bent away from the player and he takes the ball cleanly, Barrow then his Bertrand's tackling leg and the impact then brings Bertand's trailing leg around giving the impression (wrongly) of a scissor tackle. I normally back refs but I have to say that Mr Oliver seemed to only referee one side, how Gomis escaped for the "assault" on Davis near the end of the game and again right in front of me simply beggars belief.
Absolutely not a red card - he played the ball high up on the ball. The ball was on the ground and his foot bounced up off the ball and hit the player
It was a red. It doesn't matter if he played the ball. It was a wild lunge and he was totally out of control of it which is a red card.
20 years ago that was a good tackle because he took the ball and then the man. Now it's a red card because his foot went over the top of the ball with excessive force and he was off the ground. I think Le Tiss explained it better on Sky.
Woohoo! But I can't see how some are saying it could not even be a foul. The criteria for serious foul play are: 1. Is excessive force used in the tackle? Borderline call in the case of Bertrand. 2. Is the player out of control? Clearly yes 3. Is the opposing player put at risk of serious injury? Again yes, so has to be a red.
It's not just down to Ron...it's down to the club. Bertrand went in wildly...if was Koeman I would have a good word with him.
We don't want a rep for appealing in no hope cases...keep your powder dry for those with a chance of success.
Well said, Tom. At the time, I didn't think it was a red, but when I got home and looked at it again (and listened to Le Tiss) I could see that it was a red and the ref had no option. However, and I'll say it again, the ref gave loads of calls against us and didn't treat fouls (like the one on Steven Davis) with the same severity. I'm getting rather tired of refs giving so much against us - and I don't remember it happening in the past. Is it because we're supposedly playing above our standard and mixing it with the "big boys"? Or is it always the same? I wouldn't want to be a ref in any football match, but, surely, you should be even-handed?
